Brian Oakley facts for kids
Brian Wynne Oakley (born October 10, 1927 – died August 17, 2012) was an important British leader. He worked for the government and in business. He played a big part in the world of computers and technology. He is especially known for his work on the Alvey Programme in the 1980s.
His Journey
Early Life and Learning
During World War II, Brian Oakley served in the Royal Signals. This was a part of the British Army. He was a junior officer. After the war, he went to Exeter College, Oxford. There, he studied science.
Working with Technology
In 1950, Brian Oakley started working at the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE). He researched how to use military technology for everyday life. Later, he became a civil servant in Whitehall. This means he worked for the government. In 1969, he joined the Ministry of Technology. He also became a top official at the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC).
Oakley led the Alvey Programme in the United Kingdom from 1983 to 1987. This was a special research program. The British government supported it. Its goal was to improve information technology. It was started because Japan had a big computer project.
After this, he became the chairman of Logica. This is a software company. He also led the computer center at the University of London. This center was very important for supercomputing in the UK. He was also a director for the European Initiative for Quantum Computing.
From 1988 to 1989, Oakley was the president of the British Computer Society. In 1991, he helped save Bletchley Park. This historic site was where codebreakers worked during World War II. He worked with Tony Sale to create the Bletchley Park Trust. He also led the Computer Conservation Society from 1996 to 2000. This group helps save old computers.
Awards and Special Recognition
Brian Oakley was given the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This is a high honor in Britain. He also received special degrees from two universities. These were Sheffield Hallam University in 1994 and the University of Essex in 1998.
